HELSINKI, FINLAND - JULY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint press conference after their summit on July 16, 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. The two leaders met one-on-one and discussed a range of issues including the 2016 U.S Election collusion. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
The United States resisted calling Russia the aggressor in the war with Ukraine in a Group 7 statement that was drafted to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion last week.
The resistance came after President Donald Trump recently blamed Ukraine for the war, even though Russia first attacked Ukraine.
A senior official from a Group 7 country said Canada, as the group’s presidency, created the first draft, which seemed pro-Ukraine, and sent it to the other six member countries. The U.S. then went through the first draft and deleted all pro-Ukraine material.
Diplomats settled on calling the war “devastating” but did not use the words “aggressor” or “aggression,” which have been previously used in the Group 7 statement since 2022. Trump’s administration wanted something different and shorter than former President Joe Biden‘s administration.
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Call a spade a spade!! Russia was the aggressor and there is no doubt about that. Stand up to the bully or, indeed, we will be facing WWIII.